Cattle-alining device.



A. V. ROWE CATTLE ALINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. I916.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

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ALVIN V. ROWE, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ROWE MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CATTLE-ALINING DEVICE.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 11919.

Application filed April 4, 1916. Serial No. 88,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN V. Rown, -a citizen of the United States, andresident of Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Cattle-Alining Device, of which the followingis a specification.

In the modern cattle-barn equipment a gutter is constructed in rear ofeach row of stalls, which gutter receives the animals Also, stanchionsare provided, one at the head of each stall. Inasmuch as the animalsvary greatly in the lengths of their bodies, it is desirable that thestanchions may be adjustable toward or from the front ends of thestalls,-in order to bring the rear portions of the animals intosubstantial alinement.

My invention relates to devices whereby the stanchion may be quicklymoved to any desired position within limits, relatively to the ends ofthe stall.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device possessingnovel features for carrying out the ends outlined in the precedingparagraph.

Another object is to generally improve and simplify the construction andto increase the utility and efliciency of devices of this character.

A further object is to provide means for permitting an end of thestanchion to swing quite freely transversely of the stall whilepermitting but a slight movement of the stanchion longitudinallythereof.

A still further object is to provide novelly constructed adjusting linksand novel connections between them and the stanchionsecuring chain.

Other objects will presently appear. Eaome of these will be obvious andothers particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates my improvements asconstructed in the best way now known to me:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation, showing my improvement-s as attached tothe curb of the stall floor and connected with a stanchion;

Fig. 2, a top plan of the adjusting links as they appear when set intheir rearmost position, the dotted lines indicating one of the reversedpositions. The swivel-hooks and the hook-retaining plate are also shown.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail illustrating the operation of theadjusting-links; and

stanchion, and 4; denotes a continuous chain each terminal link of whichengages a clevis 5 flexibly connected with the adjacentstanchion-member.

6, 6' denote a pair of stanchion-adjusting links each of which has aseries of open ings 7 for the passage of a screw-bolt 8 or other meansby which they may be secured to the curb 2. The dotted lines in Fig. 2show clearly the reversed position into which these may be turned. 9indicates a rivet or the like, pivotally connecting the meeting ends ofthe links.

The link 6 comprises an arm 10 from which rises a boss 11 which ishollow and constitutes a pocket 12 formed in part by an overlying flange13. That face of the boss which confronts the bolt 8 is channeled asshown at 14 and the flange 13 has a transverse recess 15. 16 designatesa projection having an aperture 17. The link 6 is similarly formed andcomprises a boss 11 constituting a pocket 12 formed in part by a flange18, the boss being channeled as shown at 14L, and the flange 13 providedwith a transverse recess 15. 16 designates a projection resting on theprojection 16 and having an aperture 17, the apertures 17 and 17receiving the rivet 9.

18, 18 designate swivels seated in the pockets 12 and 12 respectively.These being duplicates a description of the construction and placementof one will suilice for those of the other. Each comprises a stem 19having atone end an open or split eye 20 and at its other end a flangedhead 21..

To position each swivel it is to be placed in the horizontal positionshown in Fig. 4:, (with the head 21 resting in the slot 15) and its stemis then moved in the channel 14:

to the vertical position shown in Fig. 3, which clearly illustrates thisoperation. As will be noted, the head 21 thus rests beneath theoverlying flange 13, which confines said head in the pocket 12.

In order, primarily, to maintain the swivels in their operative(vertical) positions I have provided the locking-plate 23 at each end ofwhich is a slot 24 through which the free ends of the respective swiveleyes are adapted to engage when the locking plate 23, is projected intothe swivel eye openings 28. This arrangement permits the locking plate23, to be engaged on the swivel eyes 20, and moved downwardly on thestems 19, after the swivels have been engaged in the link bosses 11 and11 and positioned vertically as shown in Fig. 2. It matters not to whichposition the swivels be turned, the walls providing the slots 24 willhold them vertical.

This plate has an additional function. The chain links are positioned inthe eyes 20 by slipping the side pieces of each link through the opening28, Fig. 4. When the plate is in position it is in such proximity tosaid opening that the latter will be practically closed, wherebyaccidental escape of the chain from the eye is averted.

To move the stanchion toward the head of the stall the screw-bolts 8 maybe quickly removed, inserted in the proper ones of the holes 7, andreset into the floor. Should it be desirable to adjust the device to aposition forward of the stall-member 2, in order to place the stanchionin proper place for a cow of unusual length, this may be quickly done byreversing the device in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. The chain willwork freely in the eyes 20, 20 to permit the cow to swing the stanchionsome little extent laterally, and also to turn on its axis, but it willbe noted that the securement of the ends of the chain, and the spacedswivels through which it passes, permit but very slight movement of thestanchion longitudinally of the stall. Inasmuch as the swivels willrotate freely in the pockets 12,

they adjust themselves to the slightest movement of the stanchion andchain.

The channel 14 and opening 15 are practically covered by the plate 23,thus pre venting dirt, dust or hair from dropping thereinto.

The advantages of the improvements will be apparent and the operationwill be understood from the foregoing, it being particularly noted thatvarious changes may be made in the details of the invention withoutdeparting from the general idea thereof as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a swinging ele ment, of links, each having aboss-provided with a transverse opening in its top and a longitudinallyarranged opening in one of its ends, swivels, each comprising an eye, astem, and a head, said swivel heads adapted to be passed through saidtransverse openings and the stems moved in the longitudinal openings topermit said swivel heads to be engaged within said bosses, and a chainpassing through said swivel-eyes and engaged with the swinging element.

2; The combination with a stanchion, of a pair of links each of which isprovided with a boss, swivel-eyes, each of which has a head removablyengaged in one of said bosses, a plate having slots through which saidswivel-eyes respectively pass to hold said swivel-eyes in positionagainst removal, and flexible means passing through said swivel-eyes andattached to said stanchion.

8. The combination with a stanchion, of a chain attached thereto, a pairof slotted links, swivel-eyes engaged by said chain and each having ahead removably engaged in one of said slotted links, and a slotted platefor holding both of the swivel-eyes in operative position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this first day ofApril, 1916.

ALVIN V. ROWE.

Jepies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, JD. 6.

